diff --git a/src/components/Lightbox.tsx b/src/components/Lightbox.tsx
index dadec21..4921002 100644
--- a/src/components/Lightbox.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Lightbox.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { useEffect, useCallback, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { motion, AnimatePresence } from "framer-motion";
 import { convertFileSrc } from "@tauri-apps/api/core";
 import { useGalleryStore, ImageTag, AiRating } from "../store";
+import { VideoPlayer } from "./VideoPlayer";
 
 function formatBytes(bytes: number): string {
   if (bytes < 1024) return `${bytes} B`;
@@ -223,8 +224,9 @@ export function Lightbox() {
         }
       }
       if (regionSelectMode) return; // block nav keys during selection
-      if (event.key === "ArrowLeft") goPrev();
-      if (event.key === "ArrowRight") goNext();
+      // Shift+arrows are reserved for video seeking (handled by VideoPlayer)
+      if (event.key === "ArrowLeft" && !event.shiftKey) goPrev();
+      if (event.key === "ArrowRight" && !event.shiftKey) goNext();
       if (event.key === "+" || event.key === "=") setZoom((value) => Math.min(3, value + 0.25));
       if (event.key === "-") setZoom((value) => Math.max(0.75, value - 0.25));
     };
@@ -365,19 +367,18 @@ export function Lightbox() {
                 <AnimatePresence mode="wait">
                   <motion.div
                     key={selectedImage.id}
-                    className="flex items-center justify-center"
+                    className={
+                      selectedImage.media_kind === "video"
+                        ? "absolute inset-0"
+                        : "flex items-center justify-center"
+                    }
                     initial={{ opacity: 0.3, scale: 0.985 }}
                     animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
                     exit={{ opacity: 0.3, scale: 0.985 }}
                     transition={{ duration: 0.12 }}
                   >
                     {selectedImage.media_kind === "video" ? (
-                      <video
-                        src={convertFileSrc(selectedImage.path)}
-                        controls
-                        className="max-h-full max-w-full rounded-2xl shadow-2xl"
-                        style={{ maxHeight: "calc(100vh - 10rem)" }}
-                      />
+                      <VideoPlayer src={convertFileSrc(selectedImage.path)} />
                     ) : (
                       <>
                         <img
diff --git a/src/components/VideoPlayer.tsx b/src/components/VideoPlayer.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..90a6012
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/VideoPlayer.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,448 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { AnimatePresence, motion } from "framer-motion";
+
+const SPEED_OPTIONS = [0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2];
+const CONTROLS_HIDE_DELAY_MS = 2500;
+const SEEK_STEP_SECONDS = 5;
+const VOLUME_STEP = 0.1;
+
+// Session-wide playback preferences shared across player instances.
+let persistedVolume = 1;
+let persistedMuted = false;
+
+function formatTime(seconds: number): string {
+  if (!Number.isFinite(seconds) || seconds < 0) return "0:00";
+  const total = Math.floor(seconds);
+  const s = total % 60;
+  const m = Math.floor(total / 60) % 60;
+  const h = Math.floor(total / 3600);
+  if (h > 0) return `${h}:${m.toString().padStart(2, "0")}:${s.toString().padStart(2, "0")}`;
+  return `${m}:${s.toString().padStart(2, "0")}`;
+}
+
+interface BufferedRange {
+  start: number;
+  end: number;
+}
+
+function ControlButton({ onClick, title, active = false, children }: {
+  onClick: () => void;
+  title: string;
+  active?: boolean;
+  children: React.ReactNode;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <button
+      className={`rounded-md p-1.5 transition-colors ${active ? "text-white" : "text-gray-300 hover:text-white"} hover:bg-white/10`}
+      onClick={(event) => {
+        event.stopPropagation();
+        onClick();
+      }}
+      title={title}
+    >
+      {children}
+    </button>
+  );
+}
+
+export function VideoPlayer({ src }: { src: string }) {
+  const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const videoRef = useRef<HTMLVideoElement>(null);
+  const trackRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const hideTimerRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null);
+  const scrubbingRef = useRef(false);
+
+  const [playing, setPlaying] = useState(false);
+  const [currentTime, setCurrentTime] = useState(0);
+  const [duration, setDuration] = useState(0);
+  const [buffered, setBuffered] = useState<BufferedRange[]>([]);
+  const [volume, setVolume] = useState(persistedVolume);
+  const [muted, setMuted] = useState(persistedMuted);
+  const [playbackRate, setPlaybackRate] = useState(1);
+  const [loop, setLoop] = useState(false);
+  const [fullscreen, setFullscreen] = useState(false);
+  const [controlsVisible, setControlsVisible] = useState(true);
+  const [speedMenuOpen, setSpeedMenuOpen] = useState(false);
+
+  const speedMenuOpenRef = useRef(speedMenuOpen);
+  speedMenuOpenRef.current = speedMenuOpen;
+
+  // ── Controls visibility ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  const showControls = useCallback(() => {
+    setControlsVisible(true);
+    if (hideTimerRef.current) clearTimeout(hideTimerRef.current);
+    hideTimerRef.current = setTimeout(() => {
+      const video = videoRef.current;
+      if (video && !video.paused && !scrubbingRef.current && !speedMenuOpenRef.current) {
+        setControlsVisible(false);
+      }
+    }, CONTROLS_HIDE_DELAY_MS);
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    return () => {
+      if (hideTimerRef.current) clearTimeout(hideTimerRef.current);
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  // ── Video element wiring ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const video = videoRef.current;
+    if (!video) return;
+    video.volume = persistedVolume;
+    video.muted = persistedMuted;
+    // Autoplay; if the webview blocks it the catch leaves us paused with
+    // controls visible, which is a fine fallback.
+    video.play().catch(() => {});
+  }, [src]);
+
+  const readBuffered = useCallback(() => {
+    const video = videoRef.current;
+    if (!video || !Number.isFinite(video.duration) || video.duration <= 0) return;
+    const ranges: BufferedRange[] = [];
+    for (let i = 0; i < video.buffered.length; i++) {
+      ranges.push({
+        start: video.buffered.start(i) / video.duration,
+        end: video.buffered.end(i) / video.duration,
+      });
+    }
+    setBuffered(ranges);
+  }, []);
+
+  const togglePlay = useCallback(() => {
+    const video = videoRef.current;
+    if (!video) return;
+    if (video.paused) {
+      void video.play().catch(() => {});
+    } else {
+      video.pause();
+    }
+    showControls();
+  }, [showControls]);
+
+  const seekBy = useCallback(
+    (deltaSeconds: number) => {
+      const video = videoRef.current;
+      if (!video || !Number.isFinite(video.duration)) return;
+      video.currentTime = Math.min(video.duration, Math.max(0, video.currentTime + deltaSeconds));
+      showControls();
+    },
+    [showControls],
+  );
+
+  const applyVolume = useCallback(
+    (nextVolume: number, nextMuted?: boolean) => {
+      const video = videoRef.current;
+      const clamped = Math.min(1, Math.max(0, nextVolume));
+      setVolume(clamped);
+      persistedVolume = clamped;
+      if (nextMuted !== undefined) {
+        setMuted(nextMuted);
+        persistedMuted = nextMuted;
+        if (video) video.muted = nextMuted;
+      }
+      if (video) video.volume = clamped;
+      showControls();
+    },
+    [showControls],
+  );
+
+  const toggleMute = useCallback(() => {
+    const next = !muted;
+    setMuted(next);
+    persistedMuted = next;
+    const video = videoRef.current;
+    if (video) video.muted = next;
+    showControls();
+  }, [muted, showControls]);
+
+  const toggleLoop = useCallback(() => {
+    setLoop((value) => {
+      const video = videoRef.current;
+      if (video) video.loop = !value;
+      return !value;
+    });
+    showControls();
+  }, [showControls]);
+
+  const toggleFullscreen = useCallback(() => {
+    if (document.fullscreenElement) {
+      void document.exitFullscreen().catch(() => {});
+    } else {
+      void containerRef.current?.requestFullscreen().catch(() => {});
+    }
+    showControls();
+  }, [showControls]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const onChange = () => setFullscreen(document.fullscreenElement !== null);
+    document.addEventListener("fullscreenchange", onChange);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("fullscreenchange", onChange);
+  }, []);
+
+  const setSpeed = useCallback(
+    (rate: number) => {
+      setPlaybackRate(rate);
+      const video = videoRef.current;
+      if (video) video.playbackRate = rate;
+      setSpeedMenuOpen(false);
+      showControls();
+    },
+    [showControls],
+  );
+
+  // ── Scrubber ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  const seekToPointer = useCallback((clientX: number) => {
+    const video = videoRef.current;
+    const track = trackRef.current;
+    if (!video || !track || !Number.isFinite(video.duration) || video.duration <= 0) return;
+    const bounds = track.getBoundingClientRect();
+    const fraction = Math.min(1, Math.max(0, (clientX - bounds.left) / bounds.width));
+    video.currentTime = fraction * video.duration;
+    setCurrentTime(video.currentTime);
+  }, []);
+
+  const handleTrackPointerDown = useCallback(
+    (event: React.PointerEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+      event.stopPropagation();
+      event.currentTarget.setPointerCapture(event.pointerId);
+      scrubbingRef.current = true;
+      seekToPointer(event.clientX);
+    },
+    [seekToPointer],
+  );
+
+  const handleTrackPointerMove = useCallback(
+    (event: React.PointerEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+      if (!scrubbingRef.current) return;
+      seekToPointer(event.clientX);
+    },
+    [seekToPointer],
+  );
+
+  const handleTrackPointerUp = useCallback((event: React.PointerEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+    event.currentTarget.releasePointerCapture(event.pointerId);
+    scrubbingRef.current = false;
+  }, []);
+
+  // ── Keyboard ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const handler = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
+      const target = event.target as HTMLElement | null;
+      if (target && (target.tagName === "INPUT" || target.tagName === "TEXTAREA" || target.isContentEditable)) {
+        return;
+      }
+      switch (event.key) {
+        case " ":
+          event.preventDefault();
+          togglePlay();
+          break;
+        case "m":
+        case "M":
+          toggleMute();
+          break;
+        case "f":
+        case "F":
+          toggleFullscreen();
+          break;
+        case "l":
+        case "L":
+          toggleLoop();
+          break;
+        case "ArrowLeft":
+          if (event.shiftKey) {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            seekBy(-SEEK_STEP_SECONDS);
+          }
+          break;
+        case "ArrowRight":
+          if (event.shiftKey) {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            seekBy(SEEK_STEP_SECONDS);
+          }
+          break;
+        case "ArrowUp":
+          event.preventDefault();
+          // Adjusting volume always unmutes, matching the slider behavior.
+          applyVolume(persistedVolume + VOLUME_STEP, false);
+          break;
+        case "ArrowDown":
+          event.preventDefault();
+          applyVolume(persistedVolume - VOLUME_STEP, false);
+          break;
+      }
+    };
+    window.addEventListener("keydown", handler);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener("keydown", handler);
+  }, [togglePlay, toggleMute, toggleFullscreen, toggleLoop, seekBy, applyVolume]);
+
+  const playedFraction = duration > 0 ? currentTime / duration : 0;
+  const effectiveVolume = muted ? 0 : volume;
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      ref={containerRef}
+      className={`relative flex h-full w-full items-center justify-center bg-black ${controlsVisible ? "" : "cursor-none"}`}
+      onPointerMove={showControls}
+      onClick={(event) => event.stopPropagation()}
+    >
+      <video
+        ref={videoRef}
+        src={src}
+        className="h-full w-full object-contain"
+        onClick={togglePlay}
+        onDoubleClick={toggleFullscreen}
+        onPlay={() => {
+          setPlaying(true);
+          showControls();
+        }}
+        onPause={() => {
+          setPlaying(false);
+          setControlsVisible(true);
+        }}
+        onTimeUpdate={(event) => setCurrentTime(event.currentTarget.currentTime)}
+        onLoadedMetadata={(event) => {
+          setDuration(event.currentTarget.duration);
+          readBuffered();
+        }}
+        onDurationChange={(event) => setDuration(event.currentTarget.duration)}
+        onProgress={readBuffered}
+      />
+
+      <AnimatePresence>
+        {controlsVisible ? (
+          <motion.div
+            className="absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 z-10 bg-gradient-to-t from-black/80 via-black/40 to-transparent px-4 pb-2.5 pt-12"
+            initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
+            animate={{ opacity: 1 }}
+            exit={{ opacity: 0 }}
+            transition={{ duration: 0.15 }}
+          >
+            {/* Scrubber */}
+            <div
+              ref={trackRef}
+              className="group/track relative flex h-4 cursor-pointer items-center"
+              onPointerDown={handleTrackPointerDown}
+              onPointerMove={handleTrackPointerMove}
+              onPointerUp={handleTrackPointerUp}
+            >
+              <div className="relative h-1 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-white/15 transition-[height] group-hover/track:h-1.5">
+                {buffered.map((range, index) => (
+                  <div
+                    key={index}
+                    className="absolute inset-y-0 bg-white/20"
+                    style={{ left: `${range.start * 100}%`, width: `${(range.end - range.start) * 100}%` }}
+                  />
+                ))}
+                <div className="absolute inset-y-0 left-0 bg-white/90" style={{ width: `${playedFraction * 100}%` }} />
+              </div>
+              <div
+                className="pointer-events-none absolute h-3 w-3 -translate-x-1/2 rounded-full bg-white opacity-0 shadow transition-opacity group-hover/track:opacity-100"
+                style={{ left: `${playedFraction * 100}%` }}
+              />
+            </div>
+
+            {/* Control row */}
+            <div className="mt-1 flex items-center gap-1.5">
+              <ControlButton onClick={togglePlay} title={playing ? "Pause (Space)" : "Play (Space)"}>
+                {playing ? (
+                  <svg className="h-5 w-5" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+                    <path d="M7 5h4v14H7zM13 5h4v14h-4z" />
+                  </svg>
+                ) : (
+                  <svg className="h-5 w-5" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+                    <path d="M8 5.14v13.72L19 12 8 5.14z" />
+                  </svg>
+                )}
+              </ControlButton>
+
+              <span className="ml-1 text-xs tabular-nums text-gray-300">
+                {formatTime(currentTime)} <span className="text-gray-500">/ {formatTime(duration)}</span>
+              </span>
+
+              <div className="flex-1" />
+
+              {/* Volume */}
+              <ControlButton onClick={toggleMute} title={muted ? "Unmute (M)" : "Mute (M)"}>
+                {effectiveVolume === 0 ? (
+                  <svg className="h-4.5 w-4.5" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={2}>
+                    <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M5.586 15H4a1 1 0 01-1-1v-4a1 1 0 011-1h1.586l4.707-4.707C10.923 3.663 12 4.109 12 5v14c0 .891-1.077 1.337-1.707.707L5.586 15z" />
+                    <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M17 9l4 6m0-6l-4 6" />
+                  </svg>
+                ) : (
+                  <svg className="h-4.5 w-4.5" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={2}>
+                    <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M5.586 15H4a1 1 0 01-1-1v-4a1 1 0 011-1h1.586l4.707-4.707C10.923 3.663 12 4.109 12 5v14c0 .891-1.077 1.337-1.707.707L5.586 15z" />
+                    <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M15.536 8.464a5 5 0 010 7.072M18.364 5.636a9 9 0 010 12.728" />
+                  </svg>
+                )}
+              </ControlButton>
+              <input
+                type="range"
+                min={0}
+                max={1}
+                step={0.02}
+                value={effectiveVolume}
+                className="h-1 w-20 cursor-pointer accent-white"
+                onChange={(event) => applyVolume(parseFloat(event.target.value), false)}
+                onClick={(event) => event.stopPropagation()}
+                title="Volume (↑/↓)"
+              />
+
+              {/* Playback speed */}
+              <div className="relative">
+                <button
+                  className={`min-w-12 rounded-md px-2 py-1.5 text-xs tabular-nums transition-colors hover:bg-white/10 ${playbackRate !== 1 ? "text-white" : "text-gray-300 hover:text-white"}`}
+                  onClick={(event) => {
+                    event.stopPropagation();
+                    setSpeedMenuOpen((value) => !value);
+                  }}
+                  title="Playback speed"
+                >
+                  {playbackRate}×
+                </button>
+                {speedMenuOpen ? (
+                  <div className="absolute bottom-full right-0 z-20 mb-2 min-w-20 rounded-lg border border-white/10 bg-gray-950/95 p-1 shadow-2xl backdrop-blur">
+                    {SPEED_OPTIONS.map((rate) => (
+                      <button
+                        key={rate}
+                        className={`flex w-full items-center justify-between gap-2 rounded-md px-2.5 py-1.5 text-left text-xs tabular-nums transition-colors ${
+                          rate === playbackRate ? "bg-white/10 text-white" : "text-gray-400 hover:bg-white/5 hover:text-white"
+                        }`}
+                        onClick={(event) => {
+                          event.stopPropagation();
+                          setSpeed(rate);
+                        }}
+                      >
+                        {rate}×
+                      </button>
+                    ))}
+                  </div>
+                ) : null}
+              </div>
+
+              {/* Loop */}
+              <ControlButton onClick={toggleLoop} title={loop ? "Loop on (L)" : "Loop off (L)"} active={loop}>
+                <svg className={`h-4.5 w-4.5 ${loop ? "text-emerald-300" : ""}`} fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={2}>
+                  <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M4 4v5h5M20 20v-5h-5M4 9a8 8 0 0114-3M20 15a8 8 0 01-14 3" />
+                </svg>
+              </ControlButton>
+
+              {/* Fullscreen */}
+              <ControlButton onClick={toggleFullscreen} title={fullscreen ? "Exit fullscreen (F)" : "Fullscreen (F)"}>
+                {fullscreen ? (
+                  <svg className="h-4.5 w-4.5" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={2}>
+                    <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M9 9H4m5 0V4m6 5h5m-5 0V4M9 15H4m5 0v5m6-5h5m-5 0v5" />
+                  </svg>
+                ) : (
+                  <svg className="h-4.5 w-4.5" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth={2}>
+                    <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" d="M4 8V4h4M20 8V4h-4M4 16v4h4M20 16v4h-4" />
+                  </svg>
+                )}
+              </ControlButton>
+            </div>
+          </motion.div>
+        ) : null}
+      </AnimatePresence>
+    </div>
+  );
+}